Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.
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Alleged U.S. Spy Whelan Didn’t Know He Was Handed Secret Files, Lawyer Says
The lawyer for a former U.S. marine accused of spying by Russia said on Tuesday that his client had been misled before his arrest and believed that a thumb drive handed to him in a hotel room had contained cultural rather than secret information. Russia’s Federal Security Serviced detained Paul Whelan, who holds U.S., British,…
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Helsinki Group Elects 3 New Members to Replace Late Lyudmila Alexeyeva
Russia’s oldest human rights organization, the Moscow Helsinki Group, has chosen three members to succeed the late Lyudmila Alexeyeva this week. Alexeyeva, who was a driving force behind the Soviet civil-rights movement, died at age 91 on Dec. 8, 2018. Alexeyeva and other dissidents founded the Moscow Helsinki Group in 1976 to monitor Soviet compliance…
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Gazprom and Mitsui discuss Sakhalin II and Baltic LNG
Background Japan’s Mitsui & Co., Ltd. (Mitsui) is one of the world’s most diversified corporations. Its major business areas include the marketing of, and investing in, oil and gas production and processing, as well as energy infrastructure development. Gazprom and Mitsui are partners in the Sakhalin II project, which includes Russia’s first LNG plant. The Sakhalin II operator is Sakhalin Energy Investment Company…
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Russia’s Foreign Debt Shrinks to Decade Low
Russia’s overall foreign debt fell by $64.4 billion last year to reach a 10-year low, Central Bank data showed Monday. Foreign debt has been falling since 2014, when Western sanctions imposed over the conflict in Ukraine made it harder for companies to borrow abroad. Read More Central Bank Says Russia’s Foreign Debt Fell $130 Billion…
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PhosAgro CEO Andrey Guryev to Participate in World Economic Forum in Davos
Moscow – Andrey Guryev, President of the Russian Association of Fertilizer Producers and CEO of PhosAgro, one of the world’s largest phosphate-based fertilizer producers, will participate in the World Economic Forum’s 49th Annual Meeting on 22–25 January 2019 in Davos, Switzerland. The Russian government delegation to the World Economic Forum will be headed by the…
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Russia Calls Sanctions on Skripal Suspects “Groundless”
The European Union sanctioned on Monday the heads of Russia’s military intelligence and two of their officers blamed for poisoning a former Russian double agent in Britain last year, a decision Moscow dismissed as groundless. The EU travel bans and asset freezes included two men Britain has named as intelligence officers Alexander Petrov and Ruslan…
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‘Women of the Gulag’ Shortlisted for Oscar Nomination
Why isn’t the Russian film industry happy? It’s complicated. Getting history on film: interviewing one of the camp survivors. Courtesy of “Women of the Gulag” It’s Oscar time again. On Jan. 22, among the nominations for 2019 awards, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Academy will announce the five short documentary films up…
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Russia Rejects U.S. Call to Destroy Missile in Arms Pact Row
Russia said on Monday it was unacceptable for the United States to demand Moscow destroy its 9M729 cruise missile, a weapon Washington alleges is in violation of a landmark Cold-War era treaty. Washington called on Moscow to destroy the new cruise missile system which it said was a “direct and continuing violation” of the Intermediate-range…
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Internet Anonymity Will Soon Disappear, Russian Culture Minister Warns
Internet users throughout the world will soon need IDs to go online as anonymity will gradually fade into oblivion, Russia’s culture minister predicted on Monday. Russia has for years called for international regulations cementing state control over the internet, arguing that national governments are otherwise left vulnerable to cyberattacks from foreign powers. Russian lawmakers submitted…
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Run-down Village Revived by Crowdfunded Honey Business
With a workforce of elderly women and using local ingredients, a honey and confectionery business put together with funds raised online is breathing life into an ailing Russian village. Cocco Bello Honey in Maly Turysh, in Sverdlovsk region around 1,500 kilometers east of Moscow, employs local residents, many in their sixties and over, left behind…
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3 Russian Soldiers Reported Dead After Transport Vehicle Falls Off Cliff
Three Russian servicemen were reportedly killed when their armored vehicle fell into a gorge in the Georgian breakaway republic of Abkhazia. Online footage of the incident’s aftermath showed a BTR-80 armored personnel carrier (APC) in a ravine below a mountainous road. The RBC news website cited Russia’s Southern Military District as saying the vehicle fell…
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U.S. Calls on Russia to Destroy New Missile System
The United States called on Russia on Monday to destroy a new cruise missile system which it said constituted a “direct violation” of the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, and accused Moscow of destabilizing global security. “Unfortunately, the United States increasingly finds that Russia cannot be trusted to comply with its arms control obligations and…
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‘Russia’s Oldest Woman’ Dies Aged 128 in North Caucasus
A woman who is reported to be the oldest in Russia has died in the North Caucasus at age 128, local officials announced Monday. The Russian Book of Records certified Nano Shaova as the country’s oldest person on July 4, 2017, when her age was given as 126 years, 11 months and 19 days. Shaova’s…
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Russia’s Super Blood Wolf Moon, in Photos
While the world set their eyes on the sky for 2019’s first and only super blood wolf moon, residents of Moscow were out of luck as cloudy skies hid the phenomenon from view. People in other parts of Russia had better chances, though, as the full phase of the eclipse could be seen in the…
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Bomb Threats Sow Panic in Russian City Reeling from Apartment Block Explosion
A slew of emailed bomb threats sparked mass evacuations on Monday in Magnitogorsk, an industrial Russian city that was rocked by an apartment building explosion late last month that killed over three dozen people. Russian investigators have said that a gas leak was the most likely cause for the Dec. 31 blast that killed 39…
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Charity hockey match held as part of United Future: Good to Children program
Background Gazprom Dobycha Urengoy, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Gazprom, was set up to develop the Urengoyskoye oil, gas and condensate field, one of the largest in the world. Its production infrastructure consists of 22 comprehensive gas treatment units, two oil production sites, 20 booster compressor stations, five gas cooling stations, more than 2,800 production wells, two compressor stations for the utilization of associated petroleum gas, and a pump station for…
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Russia Opens Civil Proceedings Against Facebook, Twitter
Russia’s communication watchdog said on Monday it was opening administrative proceedings against Twitter and Facebook for failing to explain how they plan to comply with local data laws, the Interfax news agency reported. Roskomnadzor, the watchdog, was quoted as saying that Twitter and Facebook had not explained how and when they would comply with legislation…
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Pushkin House Book Prize: Let the Reading Begin
Pushkin House has launched the 7th round of its annual Book Prize, a competition which seeks to bring the finest writing about the Russian-speaking world to the attention of readers and promote an informed and nuanced debate about events, institutions and people in the past and present. The prize recognizes excellence in works of non-fiction…
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Nayara Energy to Enter Indian Petrochemical Market in 2022
Nayara Energy Limited, 49.13% of which is held by Rosneft Oil Company, works on a milestone development programme for its Vadinar refinery. The first stage involves the organization of production of petrochemical products and a foray into Indian petrochemical market. The first phase of the Vadinar refinery development programme includes construction of new units to…
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PhosAgro joins UN Global Compact, expanding its engagement with the UN on corporate social responsibility and sustainable development
Moscow – PhosAgro (Moscow Exchange, LSE: PHOR), one of the world’s leading vertically integrated phosphate-based fertilizer producers, has joined the United Nations Global Compact. Launched in 2000, the Global Compact is the UN’s largest international initiative for business in the areas of corporate social responsibility and sustainable development. Since its establishment, more than 13,000 companies…
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Severstal reports Q4 & FY2018 operatioal results
January 18, 2019 Q4 2018 GROUP HIGHLIGHTS Hot metal output decreased 3% q/q in Q4 2018 to 2.23 mln tonnes (Q3 2018: 2.31 mln tonnes), due to BF#2 short-term maintenance works. Crude steel production declined by 4% to 2.94 mln tonnes (Q3 2018: 3.06 mln tonnes) reflecting a decrease in pig iron production and seasonal…
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Denis Vasyukov put in charge of Gazprom Transgaz Krasnodar
Release January 17, 2019, 21:10 Denis Vasyukov has been appointed Director General of Gazprom Transgaz Krasnodar. Denis Vasyukov was born in 1977 in Kemerovo. He graduated from Tomsk Polytechnic University, majoring in Machine-Building Technologies. He has an MBA. He has been employed with Gazprom for over 16 years. Between 2002 and 2010, he rose through the ranks from Dispatcher to Chief Engineer – First Deputy Director of the Yurginskoye…
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Russia and Serbia sign a package of agreements on cooperation in nuclear energy use for peaceful purposes
On January 17, 2019, during the visit of the Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin to the Republic of Serbia, a package of agreements was signed in Belgrade. It creates a legal foundation for the practical implementation of joint projects in the field of nuclear energy use for peaceful purposes: an intergovernmental agreement on cooperation in…
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Memorandum signed to expand Banatski Dvor underground gas storage facility in Serbia
Release January 17, 2019, 18:45 Alexey Miller, Chairman of the Gazprom Management Committee, and Dusan Bajatovic, Director General of Srbijagas, signed today in Belgrade, Republic of Serbia, a Memorandum of Understanding on the advancement of the expansion project for the Banatski Dvor underground gas storage (UGS) facility. The signing ceremony took place in the presence of Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation, and Aleksandar Vucic, President of the…
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St. Petersburg Cultural Getaway
If you’re looking for a weekend getaway, how about heading north? The arts season is in full swing and the snowy canals and squares are magnificent.
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Moscow Hosts First Show of Kahlo and Rivera
Step out of the cold into the bright colors of Mexico at this much-anticipated retrospective of Kahlo and Rivera.
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Ready to Take the Plunge? Here Are 5 Tips for Surviving Epiphany in Russia
This weekend, tens of thousands of Russians will plunge into freezing rivers and lakes to celebrate the feast of the Epiphany.
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TVEL Fuel Company of ROSATOM Supplied Nuclear Fuel Components for Research Reactor in Egypt
TVEL Fuel Company of ROSATOM has supplied a range of nuclear fuel components for ETTR-2 research reactor in Egypt. The items were manufactured by Novosibirsk Chemical Concentrates Plant (NCCP PJSC, an enterprise of TVEL Fuel Company), which is the key Russian producer of nuclear fuel for research reactors. The shipments have been carried out under…
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Rosneft Deutschland successfully started direct marketing operations
Rosneft Deutschland GmbH, a Rosneft subsidiary, started direct marketing operations in order to increase the efficiency. The company implemented marketing of all refined products produced by Rosneft Deutschland at three refineries in Germany where the company is a shareholder. The products range includes gasoline, diesel, heating oil, jet fuel, LPG, bitumen, fuel oil and petrochemical…
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Rosneft Completes Development of Its Own Geomechanics Simulator
Specialists from RN-UfaNIPIneft, a facility of Rosneft’s corporate Research and Development Complex, have completed their work on creation of the first industrial model of RN-SIGMA corporate software solution designed for geomechanics modelling when drilling. The software allows Company’s engineers expanding their application of geomechanics for borehole stability calculation and reducing the risks during drilling of…
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Izhora Pipe Mill to supply pipes for the Europea gas pipelie Polad–Slovakia Gas Itercoectio
January 15, 2019 Izhora Pipe Mill (IPM, part of PAO Severstal) is to produce and supply over 11 thousand tons of large diameter pipes for the Poland–Slovakia Gas Interconnection project, which will become part of the EU energy infrastructure priority corridor North–South gas interconnections in Central Eastern and South Eastern Europe (NSI East Gas). IPM…
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Pessimism Sweeps Russia (Op-ed)
The situation is somewhat more complicated than the ruled losing faith in their rulers. Russia’s rulers also seem to be losing faith in themselves.
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Zvezda Shipyard Increases Portfolio of orders by 42%
In the second six-month period of 2018, Zvezda Shipbuilding Complex’s portfolio of orders grew by 42 percent, and currently Zvezda has contracts for construction of 37 vessels. Zvezda’s anchor customer is Rosneft, which placed an order for 26 vessels, including 12 Arc6 and Arc7 ice-class tankers, 4 ice-class multi-purpose support vessels, and 10 Aframax tankers.…
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Mikhail Larionov: A Master Comes Home
Step out of the snow and darkness of a Moscow winter and into the light, color and movement of Mikhail Larionov’s works
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The Vladivostok Phenomenon: Should Russia Eliminate Visa Requirements for Chinese Tourists? (Op-ed)
In the long run, Russia may lift the visa regime with China. But several issues stand in the way.
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Magnitogorsk Explosion Touches Russia’s Raw Spots (Op-ed)
The mood in Russia seems to be turning inward toward domestic issues.
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Women of the Gulag
Vladimir Bukovsky on Women of the Gulag The USSR was a huge zone of human suffering. Inside that zone there was also a hell that contained its powerless slaves—the GULAG. But within that hell, there was an even more terrible hell. Varlam Shalamov — the great writer who lived through the GULAG hell — dsaid…
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Is Russian Negligence More of a Threat Than Terrorism? (Op-ed)
In the wake of another tragedy, it’s worth asking what Russians themselves can do to prevent the next one.
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Catastrophes, Geopolitical and Otherwise
What did Vladimir Putin mean about that geopolitical catastrophe? It’s still being argued over 14 years later.
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Lucky Lentils For a Prosperous New Year
Russians let you start the new year again this weekend. And here’s the lucky dish to celebrate with.
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The Perils of Overestimating Putin (Op-ed)
The West’s worries over where Putin will strike next is playing right into his hands.
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TVEL Fuel Company of ROSATOM will supply nuclear fuel for China’s CFR-600 fast-neutron reactor
TVEL JSC and Chinese company CNLY (a part of CNNC corporation) have signed the contract for supply of nuclear fuel for CFR-600 fast-neutron reactor which is currently under construction. The contract covers the initial loading of nuclear fuel, as well as supplies for refueling during the first seven years of the reactor operation. New manufacturing…
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TVEL Fuel Company of ROSATOM will supply nuclear fuel for China’s CFR-600 fast-neutron reactor
TVEL JSC and Chinese company CNLY (a part of CNNC corporation) have signed the contract for supply of nuclear fuel for CFR-600 fast-neutron reactor which is currently under construction. The contract covers the initial loading of nuclear fuel, as well as supplies for refueling during the first seven years of the reactor operation. New manufacturing…
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‘Freedom Exists’ in Yekaterinburg
The Yeltsin Center is holding a comprehensive show of works by the non-conformist artist Erik Bulatov.
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Rosenergoatom: In 2018 Russian nuclear power plants set a new electricity production record of over 204 bln kWh
In 2018, Russian nuclear power plants (branches of Rosenergoatom) set a new electricity production record which is 204.275 bln kilowatt-hours, accrued cumulative output and exceeded achievement of 2017 (202.868 bln kWh) by more than 1.4 bln kWh. The FAS balance over 2018 was fulfilled by 101.46% with the planned indicator of 201.334 bln kWh. Kalinin…
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Rosenergoatom, the NTI Energynet and the CSR “North-West” have entered into a cooperation agreement on the digital electric power development
The Rosenergoatom Joint-Stock Company, the NTI Energynet and the Center for Strategic Research “North-West” Foundation (the infrastructure center of Energynet) have entered into a cooperation agreement to work jointly on developing the digital (intelligent) electric power in Russia and implementing the Roadmap introduced by Energynet the National Technological Initiative, including the areas of establishing and…
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Christmas Evenings with Denis Matsuev and Friends concerts held in Irkutsk
Background Gazprom Dobycha Irkutsk, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Gazprom, operates gas and gas condensate production and treatment facilities and acts as the design and construction customer for the pre-development of hydrocarbon fields in the Irkutsk Region, with Gazprom acting as the license holder. The Kovyktinskoye gas and condensate field (with Gazprom Dobycha Irkutsk appointed in 2011 as its development operator), along with the Chayandinskoye oil, gas and condensate field…
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A Capital of Culture
Back to basics — now that tickets sales and crowds are back to normal, it’s time to get some high culture.
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Gazprom brings energy security of Kaliningrad Region to new level
Release January 8, 2019, 14:40 Photos A commissioning ceremony for an offshore gas receiving terminal and a floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) called Marshal Vasilevskiy was held today in the Kaliningrad Region. Taking part in the event were Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation, Alexey Miller, Chairman of the Gazprom Management Committee, Alexander Gutsan, Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Northwestern Federal District, Anton Alikhanov,…
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‘Ayka’ Is Still In the Running for an Oscar
Another Russian-language film is in the news — this one an Oscar contender.
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A Russian Film Premieres on YouTube
These days the place to see a popular new Russian film is at home on your computer.
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Germany Wobbles on Nord Stream Pipeline as Putin Tensions Mount
Nord Stream 2 faces growing skepticism among German officials who had previously defended it against criticism from Trump and some EU allies.
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Putin’s Retirement Plan Depends on Belarus (Op-ed)
To retain power, he is positioning himself as the leader of a closer union between Russia and its dependent neighbor.
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Get Out of Town
Tired of the capital’s hum? Head out of town for the day or weekend.
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Paul Whelan’s Arrest in Russia Brings Civilians Back Into the Crosshairs (Op-ed)
Whether or not the former U.S. marine was a spy, a new and chilling tactic could pose a threat to bystanders.
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Moscow’s Best English Language Bookstores
If you have been searching far and wide for English language books, look no further! Here are a few stores where you will find all of your favorite titles.
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Santa and an Elf Tightrope Walk Over Moscow
Eyewitnesses spotted the daredevils walking the tightrope on Tverskaya Ulitsa this weekend.
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Get Outside
Now that your New Year’s hangover is over and you’ve eaten your weight in salad Olivier — it’s the perfect time to head outdoors.
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A New Year’s Eve Trip Around Russia — and Into 2019
The celebrations reach Moscow some nine hours after the Far East first rings in the New Year.
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Shock the Guests on New Year’s Eve
Still cooking, chopping and fighting over the New Year’s menu? Try something old with a new twist.
Got any book recommendations?